Journal Staff Report
Albuquerque police are investigating a cache of human remains discovered on the West Mesa this week, said police spokesman John Walsh.
The bones, which were found in the 10800 block of Dennis Chavez NW, were first discovered earlier in the week by a woman walking her dog. The initial discovery was tested and determined to be human, and officers have since dug up more bones buried in the freshly excavated land, Walsh said.
Walsh said he was not sure why the land had been excavated, but said he thought it was due to development in the area.
He described the bones as "miscellaneous skeletal remains," rather than complete skeletons, and said they have been turned over to the Office of the Medical Investigator to determine how old they are. Walsh said there were some clavicle bones among the remains, but could not say what else was found or how recently the bones were left there.
"It can run the gamut from a rancher's grave to recently buried in the past few years to ancient," Walsh said. "This happens every time there's a development, it seems like some bones are uncovered."
There are dozens of missing person cases being investigated in New Mexico, and cold case detectives are anxiously awaiting results from OMI anthropologists.